[20]best of three & best three

best of three = 3 個中最好那個 (1 個是最好)

best three = 最好3 個 (3個都是最好)

2014-07-15 07:30:50 補充：
best of (the) three = 3 個中最好那個 (一個是最好)
best of three 不是解 three of the best

best three = 最好的 3 個 (3個都是最好)

如果想講最好3個,
These three are the best. = 這三個是最好的

參考:
“He is among the best of our workers.
他是我們工作人員中最好的一個”
~ from Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary

“She is the best of the new young writers.”
~ from Longman Advanced American Dictionary
備注:- 不是 all the new young writers 是最好.

“Of all trips, this one has been the best”
~ from Collins Gage Paperback Dictionary

Special meaning:
(play) the best of three = play(ing) up to three games, the winner being the person who wins the most of them. 三局兩勝

2014-07-15 19:33:19 補充：
謝謝意I思A ( 知識長), I couldn't agree more.

一班學生考試, 其中三個一百分. (滿分)
或者三個分數一樣 (say 95%) , 是班中最好
the best 有三個.
They are the three best ones.
Best 不限於一個
英語有個 phrase 是 one of the best

2014-07-16 03:21:08 補充：
考頭三名的學生(各自不同分數),
Say, David 100%, Peter 99%, John 98%
我會說是 the top three students in the class.

best 含有 better than anyone else 意思
Peter 不會是 one of the best students
原因 David 高分過他

2014-07-17 01:31:19 補充：
知足常樂 ( 知識長):
愚見是中文和英文的意思少少不同
不過現在 Best is loosely used. 早已應用在強調”好” 方面
Best is the superlative of “good”
Best = better than anything/anyone else in quality, skill, ..etc.
因為人,事物很多的東西, 不能像考試分數去 quantify, 要看個人主觀
Phrases 有 the very best, best of the best, best days of my life, Best wishes

2014-07-17 02:01:43 補充：
以前 "best friend" definition:
Best friend = the one most liked, trusted and confided in more than anyone else

You are willing to sacrifice yourself for your best friend who is worthy of your sacrifice. 是否老土?

字跟隨年代變了, 最近我聽九十後年青人說
She is my very best girlfriend (為何不加上 for the time being?).

The best of three =三個中最好的the best three=最好的三個

They are the best three.
They are the three best ones.

2014-07-15 17:42:27 補充：
best three = 最好的頭3 個
three equal best =3個一樣最好

其實 best three 是否應指 「最好的 3 個」？

即未必是３個都是最好，最好的可能仍只有一個，例如考頭三名的學生可以是 the best three students in the class。

2014-07-16 16:24:20 補充：
如果是這樣理解的話，可能中文和英文的意思會有不同？

我明白 Godfrey 的解釋。

如果在中文說，成績最好的三位同學將會代表我們班出外交流。

那只能譯作 top three，不能譯作 best three。

但中文仍是用「最好」？

還是中文也有別的詞語？

2014-07-17 16:15:46 補充：
謝謝 Godfrey~

這個討論很實用和有趣～

我也同意中文和英文的意思有少少不同～

若果查 top 和 best 的中解釋也會譯作最佳，但細看本帖的嚴格定義可知其不同之處。

☆ヾ(◕‿◕)ノ

這三個是最好的==The three are the best.
最好的三個==These are the best of three.